Everything is on Sale!!
And the world is full of slogans tempting us to buy things we often do not need: “Betcha can’t eat just one!” “The best a man can get” “Save money, live better” Each slogan tempts our inner demons to want to purchase these items or shop at these stores in order to have what everyone else has and be the best we can be. Each one insinuates that the world with these products is so much better than without, that we often fall prey to the sales pitch and spend our money. But each time we waste our money on empty promises we might have a momentary bit of satisfaction but soon the hollowness returns as the material purchase has once again failed to live up to our expectations. So, if all these empty promises truly won’t make us happy, then why do we spend money at all? Wouldn’t there be a more productive use of our resources in our quest for happiness in life? Linking income to happy people A recent study reviewed by the Wall Street Journal looked at a question that has boggled society for centuries. And that question is if you make enough money, can you buy happiness? Researchers looked at the overall satisfaction people of different income levels had with their lives and saw a correlation between income and general satisfaction or overall happiness of the people they interviewed. This correlation was seen in numerous cultures and nations leading them to look further at this finding and determine what was behind this information. It was safe to say that people who were struggling to get by from day to day and having a difficult time paying their monthly expenses were generally less happy with their situation. But what was truly interesting were those people at the upper end of the pay scale and how their overall feeling of happiness increased as their incomes went up. The surprising thing this study identified, however, was that happiness did not come from buying material possessions but instead on choosing to make charitable donations or pay for memorable life experiences like traveling. It did not include acquiring material possessions. Material goods vs. experiences Researchers further analyzed these findings to show that people still felt material purchases were a better value overall as the goods would be there in the long run. However, the study showed that the experiences provided better lasting value when people choose to spend their money that way instead. So, just why do people value experiences more than material goods when they are gauging their overall happiness in life? When a person makes a purchase they experience a series of events from the anticipation of making the purchase, traveling to the store, purchasing the item and then the excitement of possessing the new purchase. But, the short thrill this process provides is over quickly and the new item is tossed aside. A life experience allows a person to join a larger group of people who have had a similar experience and gain a sense of identity from sharing their own stories. Life experiences change a perspective on life allowing us to address other psychological needs that we have and gain a sense of belonging and with belonging comes happiness. They say that money can’t buy love but there just might be some truth to the idea it can buy happiness in the form of experiences. These experiences create the opportunity for us to develop relationships and comradery with others who have had the same experience. So, if you are trying to spend your way to a happier life, there just might be a better avenue for your resources. Check Out The Materialistic World, A new path to happiness.
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